Hi there of us, and welcome to a different version of Field Artwork Brawl!
In final week’s version, Metroid Prime – one of many biggest console video games of all time – entered the ring. As we would predicted, it was a reasonably shut battle, however Japan’s extra action-packed (for those who can name it that) design simply managed to beat out North America and Europe’s extra restrained strategy with 53% of the vote. It simply goes to point out that even probably the most iconic field artwork design will not be essentially the greatest one.
This week, we will be taking a look at one other traditional entry within the Castlevania collection: Castlevania: Circle of the Moon for the GBA; often called Akumajō Dracula: Circle of the Moon in Japan, or simply ‘Castlevania’ for those who’re in a PAL area. Launched again in 2001 as a launch title for the hand held console, Circle of the Moon was critically acclaimed by critics and followers alike and remains to be held in excessive regard at this time (although it is protected to say that Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow takes the title because the GBA’s absolute best Castlevania recreation).
North America and Europe are as soon as once more teaming up for this week’s brawl to go up in opposition to Japan. Even though the PAL launch of the sport eliminated the ‘Circle of the Moon’ subtitle, the precise design of the field artwork itself is close to sufficient similar, so we can’t be pitting these two in opposition to each other.
Be sure you forged your votes within the ballot under; however first, let’s try the field artwork designs themselves.
North America / Europe
That is the field artwork you are all acquainted with, proper? Given the shape issue of GBA recreation bins, Konami naturally solely had a lot area to work with. We have the sport’s protagonist, Nathan Graves, entrance and centre weilding the franchise’s iconic whip. Within the background is, in fact, Dracula’s citadel, which is suitably darkish and gothic with a bunch of creepy bats flying out in the direction of the viewer. Lastly, the greenish glow of the moon (which can be round, eh??) gives a pleasant ambiance to the picture total, and you’ll see its hazy mild hitting the floor of the citadel partitions and its surrounding atmosphere.
It is an incredible picture, all instructed, and if it weren’t for the stiff competitors from Japan, we would be fairly comfortable to sing its praises all day lengthy.
Japan
Publishers usually had far more to work with in Japan when it got here to GBA recreation bins; the panorama orientation offered much more area for extra paintings, and that is maybe most evident within the field artwork for Castlevania: Circle of the Moon. Nathan Graves remains to be there, in fact, in the very same pose and in opposition to the very same background because the US/EU field artwork, however we have a lot extra right here. On to the left of Graves is a side-on profile of his coaching companion, Hugh Baldwin, then subsequent to him is a person that basically wants no introduction: Dracula himself.
The addition of the additional characters brings much more selection to the paintings, each when it comes to composition and color use, to not point out the infinitely extra placing ‘Akumajō Dracula’ brand. In a whole lot of situations with field artwork, much less is best, however we’re ready to exit on a limb right here and say that for Circle of the Moon, extra is undoubtedly higher.
It is in all probability apparent which one we want this week, however what do you suppose? Be sure that to forged your vote and share your ideas within the feedback under!
Thanks for voting! We’ll see you subsequent time for one more spherical of the Field Artwork Brawl.
